Category: Metabolism

According to the National Institutes of Health, B vitamins play an essential role as coenzymes in energy metabolism, helping to convert food into energy. This critical function underpins a key truth about metabolism: no single vitamin is a 'magic bullet' for a fast metabolism. Instead, it is the collective action of several vitamins and minerals that supports and optimizes your body's metabolic rate.

According to the American Heart Association, the average adult consumes far more than the recommended daily limit of added sugar. But beyond the empty calories, what happens to your body when you eat refined sugar and how does this daily habit impact your long-term health?

According to research from Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Mark Mattson, intermittent fasting relies on an ancient biological process called metabolic switching. This eating pattern, which alternates between periods of eating and voluntary fasting, influences cellular functions and hormonal levels to achieve its effects.

According to the National Institutes of Health, thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) is a cofactor for multiple critical enzymes in metabolic pathways, including the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. This complex is responsible for the crucial reaction that converts pyruvate into acetyl CoA, effectively linking glycolysis to the citric acid cycle.

The critical methylation step in the synthesis of thymine, a fundamental component of DNA, is made possible by specific coenzymes. The primary coenzymes of thymine synthesis are derivatives of folate and flavin, which are crucial for this essential metabolic pathway.

According to health guidelines, a standard 12 oz beer with 5% alcohol by volume contains approximately 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol. Generally, it takes the human liver about one hour to process this amount of alcohol. However, this is merely an average, and the actual time can vary significantly based on individual physiological factors and drinking conditions.

According to a study on cellular metabolism, while carbohydrates and fats are the body's primary fuel, the amino acid glycine can be used to generate energy under specific metabolic conditions. This process is part of its broader, multi-faceted role beyond being a simple building block for proteins.

An average person stores about 2,000 calories of carbohydrates as glycogen in their muscles and liver. Understanding this internal fuel tank is crucial for anyone looking to optimize their energy, athletic performance, or weight loss strategy and is the key to answering the question: how long does it take to burn stored carbs?

According to research, the body uses approximately 5–10% of the energy from carbohydrates for digestion and absorption. This process, known as the thermic effect of food (TEF), is the metabolic cost your body pays to process the nutrients you consume. So, do you burn calories digesting carbs? The short answer is yes, but the amount is influenced by the type of carbohydrate and other macronutrients in your meal.

An estimated 45-65% of an adult's daily calories should come from carbohydrates, but what happens when you consume more? The simple answer to where do excess carbs go in the body involves a two-step storage process: first as glycogen and then as fat.